VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Max Lipinski kicked a 45-yard field goal as time expired to cap a run of 13 William & Mary points in the final minute and the Tribe beat Villanova 35-32 on Friday night in a season and Patriot League opener.
Lipinski’s winner was his fifth field goal of the game and came after Cade Ellis returned an interception 24 yards to the Wildcats’ 28.
Winston Watkins passed for a 37-yard touchdown to Kai Austin and the PAT tied the game with 22 seconds remaining. That TD came after a Lipinski field goal with 53 seconds left followed by a recovery of an onside kick at the Villanova 39.
Villanova, an FCS semifinalist last year that came in ranked No. 8 in the Stats Perform poll, was making its Patriot debut as was William & Mary, both coming over from the Coastal Athletic Association.
Villanova trailed 22-17 in the second half before Jamie Tyson set the Wildcats up at the Tribe 32 with a 36-yard interception return. Pat McQuaide threw an 8-yard TD pass to Brandon Binkowski then a two-point conversion to Jake Hilton for the three-point lead with 3:47 remaining. After the Tribe turned the ball over on downs, Isaiah Ragland went 37 yards to extend the lead to 32-22 with 2:43 left.
Watkins threw for 254 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and ran for 72 yards on 21 carries with another score.
Villanova had won nine straight season openers, all since Mark Ferrante became head coach.
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